Issue 2

Keep Fit for Cricket with Stevie Gilmour I rarely like fitness work without a bat or ball! So for this drill you need a ball and a wall. What are the 6Cs? Watch me demonstrate the 6Cs drill. Having a strong “mid section” (don’t want to give anything away) is important for any athlete. As cricketers we need to be strong through the crease to bowl fast and have stability and strength to whack big 6’s (not that I hit too many of those in my time!) Give this one a go ……. Drinks breaks allowed. See if you can get to the magic 3 figures! Thursday evenings used to be all about training at Grange Loan. Now they are when the population hurries to its front door to say thank you in its own small way for the hard work and commitment shown by all those who are playing key roles in beating COVID-19. It is right therefore that Carlton takes a moment to remember those of its members who are in the front line. Long serving skipper of Carlton Women Ruth Willis is in GP practice in Glenrothes. Anish Amin continues his important role at ERI. Commenting on the situation Anish said ‘It’s not so bad. It’s what we trained for.’ Like facing fast bowling. All Carlton members should give them an extra clap come Thursday. ooOoo Clapping for Carlton Where are they now? And what were they doing?

I joined Carlton for the 1982 season and duly turned up at Grange Loan for nets on a chilly Tuesday evening ready to dazzle all with my twirlers. At my previous Club I had helped the groundsman and when Carlton’s roller appeared, I had to confess that I was familiar with the model. So, my twirlers had to take second place and I spent my very first evening at the Club rolling the whole square. Our roller has been trundling up and down for 54 seasons. Many hands have grasped its wheel. But nobody has found it the easiest vehicle to drive: the steering was very heavy, it oversteered when going in reverse and it was difficult to get it into and out of reverse gear. This made it very difficult to make it go where you wanted and attempts to correct often just made things worse. Watching first attempts was amusing, with novice drivers regularly finding themselves on the strip next to the one they were attempting to roll. We could have sold tickets. Getting it out of the garage could also be particularly tricky. One evening I arrived to find the roller stuck sideways between the side of the pavilion and a tree! A group of senior players stood looking sheepish, unable to give a sensible account of how it had got there, far less any constructive idea of how to get it out. Rollin’ Rollin’ Rollin’ A Doughty Groundsman reminisces It took me well over an hour to sort that out. I have to confess that a modicum of bad language was necessary, and I broke more sweat than any of those frolicking in the nets that night. In its first 54 years the roller was re-engined twice. But by the end of last season, although the engine was running fine, it had become difficult to start, the transmission system was consistently breaking down, the steering had become even heavier. While Brian Forrester’s repainting made it look better, the paint job did not overcome these mechanical issues. After investigation and identification of the most cost effective option, at the beginning of February the roller was sent off to be refitted. When it came back – see photo above - we were unable to take it onto the ground because the ground was soaking – all very frustrating. But we have since been able to roll the whole square half a dozen times or so. The difference is amazing, particularly the steering. Good for another 55 years! (Just like me!)